Ensete Maurelli Rotting
 

I received a reddish banana from someone and it is putting out a leaf but I noticed a blackish rot at the base on one side and the concomitant pill bugs. I think that this may be the Ensete Maurelli. I'm greatly concerned about the rotting. It has been very cool and rainy this summer but it hasn't rained here in almost two weeks so I'd like to think that this plant can make it. What should I do, i.e. what steps should I take to ensure survival of the plant? I'll post a few pics when I figure out how to post them.

Re: Ensete Maurelli Rotting
 

Well, you could lightly scrape off the rotted part with your finger or a butter knife and then spray it with a fungicide, or at least dust it with cinnamon. Spray those pill bugs with a bug killer, or at least pick them all out and step on them.... Make sure it's in a good location--nice and bright but not in direct sun. The warmest place you can find, around 80-85 with fairly high humidity would be good. Make sure you have it in a good well draining soil mix, the ensete seem to like a little less water than most regular musa in my opinion when growing in a container. Or is it in the ground?

Re: Ensete Maurelli Rotting
 

I squished the bugs with my hands and scraped off the rot with my fingers as soon as I got home. I have it in a pot right now. I'll give the cinnamon a try, I forgot all about using cinnamon as a fungicide. Thanks! It hasn't rained here for a while but the high temperatures have been in the low 70s. In a few more weeks it's going inside but I'm going to see what happens this winter before I consider repotting. The soil looks friable enough for now. I will take a picture and post (if I can) so you can get a better idea of the condition of the plant and for positive ID. I've just uploaded a few pics to my gallery so if you or anyone else has a moment I'd appreciate your opinion.

Re: Ensete Maurelli Rotting
 

It's definitely ensete maurelii, and it looks pretty viable, actually. RELAX and just keep it warm and in a nice bright place. One trick I use with my puny plants is to set the pot in a flat on top of one of those little propagation mats that came with a seedstarting kit, so that the soil stays nice and warm.

Re: Ensete Maurelli Rotting
 

For the buggies...
Try some Diatomaceous Earth around the plant - or sprinkle it on the leaves or P-stem...
Wherever they are crawling!

It will be a beautiful plant...just needs a little TLC, which you are giving it!! :) ~Cheryl

Re: Ensete Maurelli Rotting
 

I'll try.:ha:

Re: Ensete Maurelli Rotting
 

I've got the plant up on a stand so it should be safe from the scourge of the pill bugs. I think that it will indeed be a beautiful plant, it doesn't look too bad now and the rot appears to have dried out. If I can only stop smothering it, it should bounce back. Now if you'll excuse me I haven't looked at in half an hour, I'd better make sure it's OK:ha:

Re: Ensete Maurelli Rotting
 

How often do you water? From the picture, it looks dry. That can make older leaves and their petioles pull away from the plant and die.

Re: Ensete Maurelli Rotting
 

I just got it a week ago. It has been very cool so I've held off with the water. We're going to have some hot weather here tomorrow with a chance of thundershowers so I'm going to see what happens. I'll keep what you said in mind. Thanks.